STUDIO: Anna Stassen

Submitted by Karen Jinks on Tue, 17/01/2012 - 07:00

As you all probably know by now, Anna Stassen is UK Handmade's Editor as well as being a very talented jewellery designer in her own right, running her own business at www.sakurajewellery.com. Today we take a look round her gorgeous studio to see what inspires her...

"I used to work from our kitchen table when we lived in North London so I fully appreciate just what a luxury it is to have my own creative space. My studio lives in our conservatory because I love the light and get a great view of our garden and woods. I started off working in a different, much darker room in the house when we first moved down to Surrey, but quickly found myself lacking in inspiration and feeling rather depressed which is when I relocated.

I love to collect vintage bits and bobs and rescued an old Singer sewing machine table and lovely old wooden desk from the garage which the previous owners of our house abandoned; these now have pride of place in my studio as my little packaging and photography tables respectively.
 
 
I am one of those people that needs things to be "in order" and "tidy" before I can start creating so I've mixed the vintage bits of furniture with some rather handy Ikea shelving and an immense Ikea desk. I love scooting from one end of my long, white Ikea desk from my computer to the space I use to make jewellery; it makes multi-tasking just that much easier.
 
 
I also like to surround myself with inspiring work from other designer-makers as it makes me feel happy. Some of my favourite pieces are my Mary Kilvert Sheep Cushions, Kate Sutton Cuckoo Clock, Kirsty Elson Love Birds, Siansbury's Sock Monkeys, Zeena Shah Blanket to name but a few...believe me I have tons more!
 
 
I also have a memo board which is jam packed full of little pictures by various artists and bits and bobs I find inspiring.
 
 
My favourite thing in my studio has to be my antique writing box which I've filled with business cards, paper ephemera, ribbons, stickers etc which I use when packaging up orders. My husband bought the box for me when I first started making jewellery and it serves as a reminder of his support and belief in me.
 
 
My three Siamese cats are ever present and like to sit on my old rocking chair and chat to me or watch me work; I never feel lonely thanks to them. We also have an abundance of wildlife which emerges from the woods behind our garden.
 
 
During the day I often take a break to watch mesmerised as squirrels chase each other up our old oak trees or deer drop in to eat the fallen apples from our tree; at night we are visited by a family of foxes and hedgehogs....I like to think of all these creatures as my wild pets."
 
See more of Anna's work at www.sakurajewellery.com
 
Take a look round other artist studios here http://ukhandmade.co.uk/studio and if you have a studio you would like to share with out readers email Karen -  info@ukhandmade.co.uk.
  • Share this

Comments

Submitted by Val Odendaal Art on Thu, 26/04/2012 - 21:51.

STUDIO: Anna Stassen | UK Handmade

Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else could anyone get that type of information in such an ideal means of writing? I've a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.
Submitted by The Green Lady on Tue, 17/01/2012 - 15:17.

Your studio is just

Your studio is just beautiful. So lovely to have the wildlife so close by. I just came across your lovely magazine and look forward to looking through. I am having a giveaway over at my blog of my handmade dogs and roses.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.

More information about formatting options